SYMPATHETIC MAGICAL THINKING IN DECISION MAKING: DIFFERENCES FOR ANIMATE AND INANIMATE DECISION TARGETS

Sympathetic magical thinking is a decision-making heuristic. The two most commonly studied versions are similarity ("appearance equals reality") and contagion ("once in contact, always in contact"). Several studies on contagion have shown that individuals will change their opinion about an object or food item if they believe it has come into contact with an undesirable person (e.g., a murderer) or disgusting thing (e.g., a sterilized, dead cockroach). The experiments described in this paper looked at the potential for a "pity effect," empathy with the target, counteracting magical thinking in regards to decision making about animate targets. In both experiments, there were lower selection rates and lower likeability ratings for targets (children, dogs or objects) that were presented with negative information about a parent or owner. However, although the contagion effect was extended to animate targets in both experiments, it was weaker for animate targets than for inanimate targets in Experiment 2. Further, expertise with animal shelters also moderated the strength of magical thinking in judgments about dogs. Results are discussed within the framework of the magical thinking heuristic in decision making and research on prosocial behavior and empathy.